Analyzing instrument, lancet-integrated attachment for concentration measuring device provided with analyzing instrument, and body fluid sampling tool

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an analyzing instrument ( 1 A) which includes a capillary ( 31 ), a fluid feed port ( 20 ) for introducing a sample liquid to the capillary ( 31 ), and a fluid feed promoter ( 6 ) for promoting the introduction of the sample liquid into the feed port ( 20 ). The capillary ( 31 ) of the analyzer ( 1 A) may be formed on a substrate ( 2 ) for example. The fluid feed promoter ( 6 ) may include at lease one of a water-absorbing layer having a higher water-absorbing capacity than the substrate ( 2 ) and an adhesive layer having a greater adhesion to the skin than the substrate ( 2 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an analyzing instrument used formeasuring the concentration (e.g. glucose level) of a specific componentin a sample liquid. The invention also relates to a lancet-integratedattachment, which, in use, is attached to a concentration measuringdevice, and which includes an analyzing instrument and a lancet.

BACKGROUND ART

Simple blood-sugar measuring devices have been in practical use forconveniently measuring the blood-sugar level at or away from home.

A blood-sugar measuring device is known wherein an attachment includinga biosensor and a lancing needle is mounted to a tip portion of themeasuring device for performing concentration measurement with respectto body fluid, as disclosed in JP-A 2000-231 for example. While a fluidfeed port of the biosensor is pressed against the skin, the lancingneedle of the blood-sugar measuring device is caused to protrude beyondthe biosensor into the skin for bleeding. The blood bleeding from theskin is supplied to a reacting portion via a capillary of the biosensorto form a liquid phase reaction system. The blood-sugar measuring devicecalculates the blood-sugar level based on the value of a responsecurrent measured when a voltage is applied across the liquid phasereaction system.

However, the attachment incorporating the biosensor may fail to properlyintroduce blood via the sample feed port because if the skin contactsthe biosensor improperly to create a gap between the biosensor and theskin, the blood may flow out along the biosensor and/or the skin via thegap. As a result, the reacting portion may fail to be supplied with anenough amount of blood needed for proper measurement.

Proposals have been made to solve the above problem by applying awater-repellent coating around the fluid feed port of the biosensor forblood leakage prevention or by arranging the feed port near the reactingportion. However, these countermeasures have turned out stillinsufficient for preventing blood leakage on lancing.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to enable concentrationmeasurement which utilizes a capillary analyzing instrument and whereinit is possible to reliably supply the capillary with an enough amount ofsample liquid needed for sample analysis.

An analyzing instrument according to a first aspect of the presentinvention comprises a capillary, a fluid feed port for introducing asample liquid into the capillary, and a fluid feed promoter forpromoting the introduction of the sample liquid through the fluid feedport.

The capillary of the analyzing instrument may be formed on a substratefor example. In this case, the fluid feed promoter may preferablyinclude at least one of a water-absorbing layer having higherwater-absorbing capacity than the substrate and an adhesive layer thathas greater adhesion to a skin than the substrate. Further, the fluidfeed promoter may preferably have higher elasticity than the substrate.

The analyzing instrument may further comprise a substrate on which acover plate is laminated via a spacer, and a through-hole may penetratethicknesswise through the substrate, the spacer, and the cover board. Inthis case, the fluid feed port may comprise the through-hole, and thefluid feed promoter may be fitted in the fluid feed port. The fluid feedpromoter may be disposed around the fluid feed port. In other words, thefluid feed promoter may be preferably arranged near the fluid feed portfor assisting the introduction of the sample liquid into the fluid feedport. The fluid feed promoter may preferably comprise a ring, but it mayalso be arcuate or otherwise shaped.

The substrate may be provided with a notch which is open at a side ofthe substrate for holding the body fluid feed promoter. In this case,the fluid feed port may be preferably open at said side. Again, thefluid feed promoter may include at least one of a water-absorbing layerhaving higher water-absorbing capacity than the substrate and anadhesive layer having greater adhesion to skin than the substrate.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a lancet-integratedattachment which comprises a lancet and an analyzing instrument for useas mounted to a concentration measuring device. The analyzing instrumentcomprises a capillary, a fluid feed port for introducing a sample liquidinto the capillary, and a fluid feed promoter for promoting theintroduction of the sample liquid through the fluid feed port.

The capillary of the analyzing instrument according to this aspect maybe formed on a substrate for example. In this case, the fluid feedpromoter may preferably include at least one of a water-absorbing layerhaving higher water-absorbing capacity than the substrate and anadhesive layer that has greater adhesion to a skin than the substrate.Further, the fluid feed promoter may have higher elasticity than thesubstrate.

The analyzing instrument according to this aspect may further comprise asubstrate on which a cover plate is laminated via a spacer, and athrough-hole may penetrate thicknesswise through the substrate, thespacer, and the cover board for allowing insertion of the lancet. Inthis case, the fluid feed port may comprise the through-hole, and thefluid feed promoter may be fitted in the fluid feed port. The fluid feedpromoter may preferably comprise a ring. The fluid feed promoter may bedisposed around the fluid feed port.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a body fluid samplinginstrument which comprises a capillary, a fluid feed port forintroducing body fluid into the capillary, and a fluid feed promoter forpromoting the introduction of the body fluid through the fluid feedport.

The body fluid sampling instrument according to this aspect is used forsampling blood bleeding from skin. For blood sampling, the fluid feedpromoter is brought into contact with a target bleeding portion of theskin

The capillary of the blood sampling tool may be formed on a substratefor example. In this case, the fluid feed promoter may preferablyinclude at least one of a water-absorbing layer having higherwater-absorbing capacity than the substrate and an adhesive layer thathas greater adhesion to a skin than the substrate. Further, the fluidfeed promoter may preferably have higher elasticity than the substrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a biosensor according to afirst embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along lines II-II in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view of the biosensor shown in FIG. 1as seen from the rear side.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the biosensor shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ring as partially cut away.

FIG. 6 is an overall perspective view of a blood-sugar measuring device.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines VII-VII of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 with a lancet advanced to aprotruding position.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a principal part of the biosensoraccording to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view of a biosensor according to athird embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines XI-XI of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the biosensor shown in FIG.10.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An analyzer according to the present invention is described below takinga biosensor used for measuring blood-sugar level as an example.

A biosensor according to a first embodiment is described referring toFIGS. 1 through 4.

A biosensor 1A includes a substrate 2, a spacer 3, and a cover plate 4.In use, the biosensor 1A is attached to a blood-sugar measuring device 5(refer to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8) that is described below.

The substrate 2 is rectangular and has a blood feed port 20. The bloodfeed port 20 is fitted with a ring 6 for helping to introduce blood.

The ring 6 has a thickness of e.g. about 70 μm which is nearly equal tothe thickness of the substrate 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the ring 6includes a water-absorbing layer 60 sandwiched between a pair ofadhesive layers 61 a, 61 b. The water-absorbing layer 60 is a membranewhich is about 50 μm in thickness formed of nonwoven fabric or the liketo have a water-absorbing capacity of 2-3 g/g. The adhesive layers 61 a,61b provide suitable adhesion to the skin. The adhesive layers 61 a, 61b are preferably formed of a blood-permeable material.

As shown in FIG. 4, the substrate 2 has an upper surface 21 formed witha working electrode 22, a counter electrode 23, and a reacting portion24. The working electrode 22 and the counter electrode 23 have L-bentfront terminals 22 a, 23 a. The reacting portion 24 is a solid partcontaining a redox enzyme and an electron carrier for example. The redoxenzyme may be glucose oxydase or glucose dehydrogenase for example. Theelectron carrier may be potassium ferricyanide for example.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the spacer 3 and the cover plate 4 whichare laminated on the substrate 2 are rectangular but shorter than thesubstrate 2 for exposing the rear terminals 22 b, 23 b of the workingelectrode 22 and the counter electrode 23.

The spacer 3 is formed with a slit 30 communicating with the blood feedport 20. The slit 30 functions as a capillary 31 when the spacer 3 andthe cover plate 4 are laminated on the upper surface 21 of the substrate2. The slit 30 has an end disposed right over the blood feed port 20.The width of the slit 30 is smaller than the inner diameter of the bloodfeed port 20. As seen from FIGS. 2 and 5, the ring 6 is adhered to thespacer 3 via the adhesive layer 61 a when fitted into the blood feedport 20. Such adhesive fixation of the ring 6 can be performed easilyonly by inserting the ring 6 into the blood feed port 20.

The cover plate 4 is formed with a lancing needle insertion port 40 andan air vent hole 41. As shown in FIG. 2, the lancing needle insertionport 40 is arranged right over the blood feed port 20 for inserting alancing needle 63 a of the blood-sugar measuring device 5 (refer toFIGS. 7 and 8). Consequently, the biosensor 1A is formed with a spacethat extends through the substrate 2, the spacer 3, and the cover plate4 so that the lancing needle 63 a can pass through the biosensor 1A. Onthe other hand, the air vent hole 41 communicates with the blood feedport 20 via the capillary 31. Thus, the blood introduced from the bloodfeed port 20 proceeds toward the air vent hole 41 in the capillary 31due to the capillary phenomenon. In the course of such process, theblood dissolves the reacting portion 24, whereby the redox enzymeoxidizes the glucose in the blood while reducing the electron carrier.

The biosensor 1A described above may be a part of an attachment to bemounted to a blood-sugar measuring device for use in measuring theblood-sugar level.

As shown in FIG. 6, the blood-sugar measuring device 5 includes a mainbody 50, a mount 51, and a presser 52. The main body 50 is provided witha display 50 a. The display 50 a includes an LCD or the like fordisplaying the measurement. The mount 51, to which an attachment 6′ ismounted, extends from the main body 50. The presser 52 is used foradvancing the lancing needle 63 a (refer to FIGS. 7 and 8).

As shown in FIG. 7, the attachment 6′ includes a cylinder 60′ and abottom wall 61. The cylinder 60′ is fitted around the tip end of themount 51. The bottom wall 61 is provided with an upwardly concave recess62. The recess 62 holds a lancet 63 and has a mouth closed by thebiosensor 1A that is affixed to the bottom wall 61. The lancet 63includes, besides the lancing needle 63 a, a flange 63 b and a head 63c. The recess 62 receives a coil spring 64 biased between the flange 63b and the biosensor 1A.

The blood-sugar measuring device 5 is further provided with a pressingrod 53 and a pair of connector pins 54. The pressing rod 53 is driventoward the tip end of the blood-sugar measuring device by operating thepresser 52. The pressing rod 53 is driven, for example, by a known latchmechanism or electromagnetic drive mechanism. The pair of connector pins54 are connected to a non-illustrated electrical circuit while beingheld in contact with the rear terminals 22 b, 23 b of the biosensor 1when the attachment 6′ is mounted to the blood-sugar measuring device 5.

In measuring the blood-sugar level, the attachment is attached to themount 51 of the blood-sugar measuring device 5. In this state, as shownin FIG. 2, the lancing needle 63 a is disposed right over the lancingneedle insertion port 40 of the biosensor 1A, while the connector pins54 contact the rear terminals 22 b, 23 b of the biosensor 1A.

Next, the tip end of the blood-sugar measuring device is pressed againstthe skin S of an examinee so that the skin S intimately contacts thering 6 of the biosensor 1A (refer to FIG. 2). In this state, as seen inFIGS. 2 and 5, the skin S sticks intimately to the ring 6 or thebiosensor 1A due to the adhesive layer 61 b at the surface of the ring6.

Subsequently, the presser 52 is operated for lancing. As shown in FIG.8, the operation of the presser 52 causes the pressing rod 53 to movetoward the tip end of the mount 51, whereby the pressing rod 53 contactsthe head 63 c of the attachment 6′. As a result, the lancet 63 is pushedforward. Since the lancing needle insertion port 40, the slit 30, andthe blood feed port 20 of the biosensor 1A communicate with each otherto provide a penetrating path thicknesswise of the biosensor 1A, themovement of the lancet 63 causes the lancing needle 63 a to pass throughthe biosensor 1A. As a result, the tip end of the lancing needle 63 aprotrudes beyond the biosensor 1A, so that the lancing needle 63 alances the skin S to promote bleeding out of the skin S. Due to thethrough-hole of the ring 6, the movement of the lancing needle 63 a isnot hindered by the ring 6 during this lancing operation even if thering 6 is fitted in the blood feed port 20.

After the lancing operation, the pressing rod 53 of the blood-sugarmeasuring device 5 is preferably spaced from the lancet 63 due to theelastic force of a spring or the like. Thus, the lancet 63 returns tothe position shown in FIG. 7 under the elastic force of the coil spring64. As a result, the lancing needle 63 a is prevented from pushing intothe skin S for a needlessly long time, thereby reducing pain to theexaminee.

When the blood from the skin S is introduced to the blood feed port 20,most of the blood is retained in the water-absorbing layer 60 of thering 6. Since the ring 6 sticks intimately to the skin S, the blood onceintroduced to the blood feed port 20 is prevented from leaking outside.Further, the absorption provided by the water-absorbing layer 60 alsocontributes to the prevention of blood leakage from the blood feed port20. Even if the ring 6 fails to stick intimately to the skin S while theblood is pooled temporarily in the ring 6, it is expected that the bloodin a gap between the ring 6 and the Skin S is exposed to the air toclot, thereby clogging the gap. Thus, blood leakage may also beprevented in this way. On the other hand, the blood absorption providedby the water-absorbing layer 60 promotes bleeding from the skin S. As aresult, enough blood for measurement can be sampled by the promotion ofbleeding from the skin S as well as by the prevention of the bloodleakage.

The blood introduced into the blood feed port 20 moves through thecapillary 31 due to the capillary phenomenon for desolving the reactingportion 24 to create a liquid phase reaction system. The blood feed port20 first pools an amount of blood before feeding to the capillary 31. Asdescribed above, an enough quantity of blood is retained in thebiosensor 1A due to the prevention of blood leakage. Thus, an enoughquantity of blood is reliably supplied to the capillary 31 and to thereacting portion 24.

A voltage is applied across the liquid phase reaction system through theconnector pin 54, the working electrode 22, and the counter electrode23. The quantity of electrons flowing between the liquid phase reactionsystem and the working electrode 22 is measured as an electric currentat the electric circuit of the blood-sugar measuring device 5. Theelectric circuit determines the blood-sugar level based on the measuredelectric current.

Next, a biosensor according to a second embodiment is described belowreferring to FIG. 9. In FIG. 9, members and elements identical orsimilar to those in the biosensor 1A described already are given thesame reference numbers, and duplicated description will be omitted.

The biosensor 1B shown in FIG. 9 includes a blood feed port 20B havingan open mouth 20Ba surrounded by a ring 6B. The ring 6B includes awater-absorbing layer sandwiched between a pair of adhesive layers forexample. The ring 6B may dispense with either of the water-absorbinglayer and the adhesive layers.

The biosensor 1B provides the same advantages as the biosensor 1A thatis previously described.

The biosensors 1A, 1B according to the first and second embodiments arenot limited by the description and figures above but may be variouslymodified.

For example, the ring may dispense with either of the water-absorbinglayer and the adhesive layers. Even in this case, blood leakage isprevented, and bleeding is promoted for reliably introducing blood intothe capillary.

Further, the ring may be elastic. Due to the elasticity, the ring mayprovide more intimate contact with the skin when pressed against theexaminee's skin, thereby preventing blood leakage more reliably. Thisadvantage may be obtained even if dust or hairs exist between the ringand the skin.

The ring may be made elastic by adopting a highly elastic material forthe water-absorbing layer and/or the adhesive layers, or by providing ahighly elastic layer in addition to the water-absorbing layer and theadhesive layer. Examples of highly elastic materials include elastomers(silicone resin, acrylic resin, rubber, or the like) and gels.

The ring may be replaced with a non-perforated fluid feed promoterfitted in the blood feed port. In this case, the fluid feed promotershould have at least a needle-piercing portion which is made of areadily penetratable material or is otherwise designed to facilitateneedle lancing. For example, the fluid feed promoter may include a firstmember provided with a through-hole and a second member to be fitted inthe through-hole, or may be a sheet made from a single material.Further, the fluid feed promoter may be arcuate. Thus, the configurationand the material of the fluid feed promoter are not limitative as longas the above-described functions and advantages can be obtained.

Next, a biosensor according to a third embodiment is described referringto FIGS. 10 through 12. In these figures, members and elements identicalor similar to those in the previously described biosensors are given thesame reference numbers, and duplicated description will be omitted.

The biosensor 1C does not form a part of the attachment shown in FIG. 7for mounting to the blood-sugar measuring device. Instead, the biosensor1C is mounted alone for use in the blood-sugar measuring device.

The biosensor 1C includes a slit 30C which is open at a side to form ablood feed port 20C. As shown in FIG. 11, the thus designed biosensor 1Cintroduces blood when the blood feed port 20C is pressed against thebleeding skin S.

Similarly, a board 2 is formed with a notch 29 which is open at a side,and a fluid feed promoter 6C is fitted in the notch 29. The fluid feedpromoter 6C has a bottom surface 6Ca and a side surface 6Cb both ofwhich are exposed. The fluid feed promoter 6C is water-absorptive,whereas the side surface 6Cb may be adherent.

The biosensor 1C also prevents blood leakage upon blood introductionwhile promoting bleeding from the skin S for reliable bloodintroduction.

Though the first through third embodiments have been described taking abiosensor as an example in, the idea of the present invention may bealso applied to a body fluid sampling tool used only for sampling bodyfluid (e.g. blood). An example of such a body fluid sampling tool mayhave the same structure as the biosensor shown in FIGS. 1 through 4except that the working electrode 22, the counter electrode 23, and thereacting portion 24 are omitted.

1. An analyzing instrument comprising: a flat cover plate having an airvent and a needle insertion port, a flat substrate having a fluid feedport for introducing a sample liquid, the substrate also having areacting portion located downstream from the fluid feed port, acapillary formed between the substrate and the cover plate to extendfrom the fluid feed port and the needle insertion port toward the airvent for transporting the sample liquid to the reacting portion, and afluid absorber fitted entirely within the fluid feed port of thesubstrate upstream from the capillary, the fluid absorber having aneedle insertion opening, wherein the needle insertion opening of thefluid absorber is aligned with the needle insertion port of the coverplate for allowing insertion of a lancing needle through the needleinsertion opening of the fluid absorber, the capillary and the needleinsertion port of the cover plate.
 2. The analyzing instrument accordingto claim 1, wherein the fluid absorber includes a water-absorbing layerhaving higher water-absorbing capacity than the substrate.
 3. Theanalyzing instrument according to claim 1, wherein the fluid absorberincludes an adhesive layer having greater adhesion to the skin than theadhesion that the substrate has to the skin.
 4. The analyzing instrumentaccording to claim 1, wherein the fluid absorber has higher elasticitythan the substrate.
 5. The analyzing instrument according to claim 1,further comprising a spacer interposed between the substrate and thecover plate, wherein the spacer is formed with a through-hole alignedwith the liquid feed port of the substrate and the needle insertionopening of the cover plate.
 6. The analyzing instrument according toclaim 1, wherein the fluid absorber has a thickness equal to a thicknessof the substrate.
 7. The analyzing instrument according to claim 6,wherein the fluid absorber comprises a ring.
 8. The analyzing instrumentaccording to claim 1, wherein the fluid absorber is disposed around thefluid feed port.
 9. A lancet-integrated attachment for mounting to aconcentration measuring device, the attachment comprising a lancet andan analyzing instrument, wherein the analyzing instrument comprises aflat cover plate having an air vent and a needle insertion port, a flatsubstrate having a fluid feed port for introducing a sample liquid, thesubstrate also having a reacting portion located downstream from thefluid feed port, a capillary formed between the substrate and the coverplate to extend from the fluid feed port and the needle insertion porttoward the air vent for transporting the sample liquid to the reactingportion, and a fluid absorber fitted entirely within the fluid feed portof the substrate upstream from the capillary, the fluid absorber havinga needle insertion opening, wherein the needle insertion opening of thefluid absorber is aligned with the needle insertion port of the coverplate for allowing insertion of the lancet through the needle insertionopening of the fluid absorber, the capillary and the needle insertionport of the cover plate.
 10. The lancet-integrated attachment accordingto claim 9, wherein the fluid absorber includes at least one of awater-absorbing layer having higher water-absorbing capacity than thesubstrate and an adhesive layer having greater adhesion to the skin thanthe adhesion that the substrate has to the skin.
 11. Thelancet-integrated attachment according to claim 10, further comprising aspacer interposed between the substrate and the cover plate, wherein thespacer is formed with a through-hole aligned with the liquid feed portof the substrate and the needle insertion opening of the cover plate forallowing insertion of the lancet.
 12. The lancet-integrated attachmentaccording to claim 9, wherein the fluid absorber comprises a ring. 13.The lancet-integrated attachment according to claim 9, furthercomprising a cylindrical housing for fitting on a mount portion of theconcentration measuring device, and a bottom wall formed at one end ofthe cylindrical housing for supporting the analyzing instrument, thebottom wall including an upwardly concave recess for movablyaccommodating the lancet.
 14. The lancet-integrated attachment accordingto claim 13, wherein the upwardly concave recess is defined by acylindrical side wall and a top wall, the lancet including a flangeslidably guided by the cylindrical side wall of the upwardly concaverecess, a head projecting from the flange through the top wall of theupwardly concave recess, and a lancing needle projecting from the flangetoward the analyzing instrument.
 15. The lancet-integrated attachmentaccording to claim 14, further comprising a spring interposed betweenthe flange of the lancet and the analyzing instrument for urging theflange toward the top wall of the upwardly concave recess.
 16. Thelancet-integrated attachment according to claim 14, wherein the bottomwall of the cylindrical housing is formed with a downwardly open cutoutfor receiving the analyzing instrument.
 17. A body fluid samplinginstrument comprising: a flat cover plate having an air vent and aneedle insertion port, a flat substrate having a fluid feed port forintroducing body fluid, the substrate also having a reacting portionlocated downstream from the fluid feed port, a capillary formed betweenthe substrate and the cover plate to extend from the fluid feed port andthe needle insertion port toward the air vent for transporting the bodyfluid to the reacting portion, and a fluid absorber fitted entirelywithin the fluid feed port of the substrate upstream from the capillary,the fluid absorber having a needle insertion opening, wherein the needleinsertion opening of the fluid absorber is aligned with the needleinsertion port of the cover plate for allowing insertion of a lancingneedle through the needle insertion opening of the fluid absorber, thecapillary and the needle insertion port of the cover plate.
 18. The bodyfluid sampling instrument according to claim 17, which is used forsampling blood bleeding from the skin, wherein the fluid absorber isbrought into contact with a target bleeding portion of the skin forblood sampling.
 19. An analyzing instrument comprising: a flat coverplate having an air vent and a needle insertion port, a flat substratehaving a fluid feed port for introducing a sample liquid, the substratealso having a reacting portion located downstream from the fluid feedport, a capillary formed between the substrate and the cover plate toextend from the fluid feed port and the needle insertion port toward theair vent for transporting the sample liquid to the reacting portion, anda fluid absorber provided upstream from the capillary, the fluidabsorber having a needle insertion opening, wherein the needle insertionopening of the fluid absorber is aligned with the needle insertion portof the cover plate for allowing insertion of a lancing needle throughthe needle insertion opening of the fluid absorber, the capillary andthe needle insertion port of the cover plate, and wherein the fluidabsorber is fitted within the fluid feed port of the substrate, thefluid absorber including a skin-contacting surface flush with a surfaceof the substrate facing away from the cover plate.
 20. An analyzinginstrument comprising: a flat cover plate having an air vent and aneedle insertion port, a flat substrate having a fluid feed port forintroducing a sample liquid, the substrate also having a reactingportion located downstream from the fluid feed port, a capillary formedbetween the substrate and the cover plate to extend from the fluid feedport and the needle insertion port toward the air vent for transportingthe sample liquid to the reacting portion, and a fluid absorber providedupstream from the capillary, the fluid absorber having a needleinsertion opening, wherein the needle insertion opening of the fluidabsorber is aligned with the needle insertion port of the cover platefor allowing insertion of a lancing needle through the needle insertionopening of the fluid absorber, the capillary and the needle insertionport of the cover plate, and wherein the fluid absorber is disposedaround the fluid feed port on a surface of the substrate facing awayfrom the cover plate.